The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-19
LAST DAYS OF CHARLES IVES
LEV


In old age Charles Wesley rode a lit
tie white horse. gray with age. 1t ap-
pears to have been brought every morn
ing from the foundry = an arrangement
which it's master did not like, but which
it was impossible to avoid. He was
somewhat stouter than his brother but
not corpulent Henry Moore says that
he wore winter clothing even in summer
When he mounted his horse, "if subject
struck him, he proceeded to expand and
put it in order. This he used to write on
card in shorthand with his pencil" Not
infrequently he used to come to the
house in the city road, and having left
the pony in the garden in front, he would
enter crying out, "Pen and inkl pen and
inkp' When these were given him, he
proceeded to write out his hymn. This
done, he looked around on those present,
saluted them with much kindness, in
quired after their health and then gave
out some short hymn.
What impression he produced on
strangers may be understood from Will
liam Wilberforce's account of his first in
terview with the venerable poet at the
house of Hannah More. He says: 81
went in 1882, to see her, and when [ came
into the room Charles Wesley rose from
the table, around which numerous COM
pany sat at tea, and, coming forward to
me, gave me solemnly his blessing. was
scarcely ever more affected. Such was
the effect OF his manner and appearance
that it altogether overset me, and burst
into tears, unable to restrain myself"
When City Road Chapel was built,
Charles Wesley preached there or in
some other Methodist chapel, every Sun
day morning and afternoon, except when
he was supplying the congregation in
Bristol, or was laid aside from his grow
ing infrmities. When in good health
and under the special influence OF the
spirit, as he often was, he was fluent and
powerful. He used short, pointed SEN
fences full of Scripture sentiment and
phraseology. "In prayer he was copious
and mighty, especially on sacramental oc-
casions." II his thoughts did not flow
freely, he was very deliberate in the
pulpit, making long pauses as though
waiting for the spirit influence. "In such
cases he usually preached with his eyes
closed; he fambled with his hands about
his breast, leaned with his elbows upon
the Bible and his whole body in motion.
"He was often so feeble as to be under
the necessity of calling upon his congre-
cation to sing in the course Of his SER
mon that he might partially recover him
self and be able to finish his discourse"
Till within few months of his death he
continued his ministry in the London
cbapels.
Every lover OF Charles Wesley's poetry
has been touched by the dying effort of
his muse For some time he had been
lying quietly on his bed. At last he
called for Mrs. Wesley and asked her to
write the following lines at his dctation.
ain age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall sinful worm redeem:
Jesus, my only hope Thou art.
Strength of my falling flesh and heart;
O:eould catch a smile from Thee,
And drop'into eternity!"
On Saturday, the Doth OF March, his
happy spirit fed. Through the whole |
week the restlessness of death had been
on him. He slept much without refresh
ment. On Tuesday and Wednesday he |
was not entirely sensible. His end was
what he particularly wished it might be
peace. Some one observed that the
valley of the shadow of death was hard